California minimum wage hike becomes law
by Muhammed El-Hasan, Los Angeles Daily News
In a nod to the growing class of Californians toiling at the bottom of the income scale, Gov. Jerry Brown put his signature on a bill that will increase the minimum wage to $10 an hour in less than three years. Read More ›
Bill allowing higher fees for high-demand college classes advances
by Carla Rivera, Los Angeles Times
As officials see it, a state plan allowing two-year schools to charge more for high-demand classes would help move students more quickly toward transfer and graduation. Students, however, argue that such a move would be unfair, and are campaigning to block the legislation. Read More ›
Financial abuse of elderly not trumped by privacy laws: feds
by Herb Weisbaum, Today.com
It’s been a murky area for bank employees for some time: When does the suspicion that an elderly customer is being defrauded overcome laws protecting privacy rights? Read More ›
California Law Allows Kids to Erase Digital Indiscretions
by Ronnie Cohen, Reuters
California teenagers, who post photographs of themselves wearing too little clothing or having had too much to drink, will have the legal right to erase their online indiscretions under newly enacted first-in-the-nation legislation. Read More ›
Teens get online “eraser button” with new California law
by Kathleen Miles, Huffington Post
California teens get an online “eraser button” under a law signed by Gov. Jerry Brown. The law makes California the first state to require websites to allow people younger than 18 to remove their own postings on that website, and to clearly inform minors how to do so. Read More ›
Gas prices could fall 45 cents a gallon in California next month
by Gary Richards, San Jose Mercury News
California drivers could be in for a big treat by Halloween, with gas prices dropping 40 to 45 cents thanks in part to a light hurricane season, an easing of tensions in the Middle East and refinery fixes at home. Read More ›
13 medications you may not realize contain acetaminophen
by Mary Beth Quirk, Consumerist
Even though it says as much on the label, how often do you really read labels closely? Perhaps you do, but weren’t aware that you should not be taking more than one product containing acetaminophen at a time. Read More ›
Apple’s fingerprint recognition technology concerns senator
by Bree Fowler, San Jose Mercury News
If hackers get a hold of your thumbprint, they could use it to identify and impersonate you for the rest of your life, Senator Franken said in a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook. Read More ›
California company recalls 60,000 pounds of ground beef that may contain plastic bits
by Editor, CBS Local
The recall was described as: “A health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the produce will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.” The beef was shipped to distribution centers in Arkansas, California, Montana and Texas and intended for use by the National School Lunch Program. Read More ›
Google may stop using ‘cookies’ to track web users
by Elizabeth Dwoskin, Wall Street Journal
Instead of using tiny trackers that dozens of companies attach to websites to monitor people’s browsing, Google is considering a switch to a system that would create its own anonymous identifier for each individual, a Google official said. Read More ›
Privacy laws need update for Internet Age
by Jamie Court, San Francisco Chronicle
Two federal courts in California recently took up the question of whether invasion of privacy laws should apply to unauthorized opening of e-mail, in one case, and interception of unencrypted home Wi-Fi communications in another. Read More ›
Slice your utility bills without sacrificing comfort
by Editor, Consumer Reports
Energy efficiency tops the list of home features that today’s savvy consumers want. And they’re willing to pay for it—an extra $7,100 for a home that will reduce annual energy costs by $1,000, according to a recent report from the National Association of Home Builders. But you don’t have to buy a new house to reap the latest energy savings. Read More ›
Reminder: Don’t be taken in by a charity scam
by Chris Morran, The Consumerist
Between the tragic flooding in Colorado and the shooting in D.C., it’s been one of those weeks that make many people want to do something to help those who are grieving, suffering, or in need. Sadly, tragedies can bring out the worst in some looking to cash in on the charity of well-meaning folks. Read More ›